Flag of Oman
Oman celebrates a national holiday, honoring the birthday of Qaboos bin Said Al Said, Sultan of Oman. Located on the southeastern portion of the Arabian Peninsula, Oman exports a great deal of petroleum. Other natural resources are copper, limestone, and marble. According to the CIA World Factbook, Oman is a bit smaller than Kansas. Muscat is the capital.
William Tell shot the famous apple from his son’s head in 1307. According to legend, Tell, an excellent Swiss marksman, had angered the local leader. The leader arrested Tell but said that if the latter could shoot an apple off the top of his son’s head, he could go free. Tell was successful, but a series of further adventures occurred before he and his son were really free. Children could read several versions of this story at: Project Gutenberg. Children could also have an accuracy contest, but not with arrows and apples and heads. They could aim paper airplanes at a target.
Antarctica was discovered by Captain Nathaniel Palmer and his crew in 1820. Only 22 years old at the time, the American was sailing on his sloop Hero and looking for seal rookeries. Antarctica is about the size of the United States and Mexico combined, and no countries can lay claim to the continent. Children can visit a great website at: Antarctica.
United States and Canada established uniform time zones in 1883. Prior to 1883 towns and particularly railroads established their own time standards. Therefore, travel between communities could be very confusing. Today the continental United States has four time zones. Alaska and Hawaii each add another time zone. Children could check out: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/ and create some good math problems with the data.
Teddy bear was created in 1902. The Washington Evening Post published cartoons of Teddy Roosevelt not shooting a bear cub. Morris Michton, a Bronx toy maker, seized the opportunity and developed the stuffed animal. Children can read the whole story at: Teddy Bear.
Flag of Monaco
Monaco celebrates its national holiday. Prince Albert II was enthroned on November 19, 2005. Monaco’s government is that of a constitutional monarchy. Located between France and the Mediterranean Sea, it has only 1.21 square miles of area. It is the second smallest country in the world. More than 30,000 people live in Monaco. It has high literacy rates and life expectancy rates, but it has a negative population growth rate. Most of the country’s revenue comes from tourism and gambling.
Abraham Lincoln
Gettysburg Address was delivered by Abraham Lincoln in 1863. The Civil War battlefield was being dedicated as a national cemetery. While keynote speaker Edward Everett spoke for more than two hours, Lincoln’s speech lasted just two minutes. However, the speech stands today as one of the best pieces of oration ever written. The Library of Congress stores the actual written speeches. Children can read the words of the Gettysburg Address at: Gettysburg Address.
Zion National Park
Zion National Park was created in Utah in 1919. Many bats live in niches along Zion Canyon. Children could research bats and Zion National Park. Then they could make an “I am batty about Zion National Park” commercial. The park website hosts some great images and an amazing ehike: Zion National Park.
Great American Smokeout Day hopes to persuade smokers to quit. The day is always the third Thursday in November. The American Cancer Society states that 36.5 million Americans smoke cigarettes. The percentage of Americans smoking has declined from 42 percent in 1965 to 14 percent in 2019. However, the number of people smoking cigars or pipes is rising. Children could visit a website at: Great American Smokeout Day.
United Nations Flag
Universal Children’s Day is observed by the United Nations. The day was first marked in 1953. Over one hundred nations recognize this day. Children could combine the ideas of the Bill of Rights and Universal Children’s Day and propose ideas for a children’s bill of rights. Children can learn more at: Children’s Day